Surprise! Lucasfilm to release animated feature “Strange Magic” in January

Hard to believe, but Disney just announced it will release a new animated film in January of 2015. “Strange Magic” is a feature length animated film from Lucasfilm. The animated musical is inspired by “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and is being presented as a madcap fairytale adventure. Interestingly, popular songs from the past six decades help tell the tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

George Lucas provided the story and Lucasfilm Animation Singapore and Industrial Light & Magic, which created the CGI animation for 2011’s Academy Award-winning film “Rango,” bring to life the fanciful forest turned upside down with world-class animation and visual effects. That may explain why it’s been kept pretty much a secret for so long.

“Strange Magic” is directed by Gary Rydstrom (“Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation,” “Lifted”), produced by Mark S. Miller (associate producer “Mars Attacks!”) and executive produced by George Lucas, with a screenplay by David Berenbaum (“Elf”), Irene Mecchi (“Brave,” “The Lion King”) and Rydstrom. Well-known music producer Marius de Vries (“Moulin Rouge”) serves as both the musical director and composer.

“Strange Magic” will be released by Touchstone Pictures on January 23, 2015.